Black Palm scales

[acolobowhunter]

Has anyone used Black Palm for knife scales?  Is so - any problems?  What should a person use for a finish?

[Pine]

I have and when I was hand sanding I drove one of the black pieces through my finger.
I used wood hardener to stabilize the wood before finishing sanding.
Then finished with True Oil.

[acolobowhunter]

So you went through the entire stabilization process?  I haven't taken up that process yet, as I just don't do enough to justify the equipment and solution.  Or did you just do a surface application?  If so, what product did you use?
The surface of the Black Palm was very rough, but after a good sanding, it now has a nice surface, but very open grain.  I don't think Linseed Oil is good for this open grain.  Maybe Tru-Oil would fill the grain and produce a better surface.  Might take a few coats however.

[Pine]

Just painted the surface until I started getting a noticeable sheen on the surface.
Only used the wood hardener to keep the black spines in place. Then I sanded smooth and user True Oil for about 5 coats.
You can use whatever you like for the finish. 

[acolobowhunter]

Thanks for the info.  I did apply a wood sealer before starting the sanding and installing the scales.  Seems to have controlled the splinters and spines.  The sanding left a nice surface.  Thinking I will use several coats of Tru-Oil as a finish.

[acolobowhunter]

Thanks for the info.  I did apply a wood sealer before starting the sanding and installing the scales.  Seems to have controlled the splinters and spines.  The sanding left a nice surface.  Thinking I will use several coats of Tru-Oil as a finish.

[acolobowhunter]

Black Palm scales

[Pine]